Pastor Says Dedmon Launched 'Campaign Of Harassment'

2 Teens Charged In Fatal Hit-And-Run

A Brandon pastor said he had warned police and school officials that if something wasn't done about Deryl Dedmon's behavior, the teenager may one day kill someone.

Dedmon, 18, is charged with murder in connection with the Sunday death of James Craig Anderson. He is accused of running Anderson, 49, over with his truck. Dedmon is currently free on a $50,000 bond.

Pastor Brian Richardson, of Castlewoods Baptist Church, said his son, a student at Brandon High School, was bullied by Dedmon.

"My son was harassed by Deryl Dedmon. Beginning in 2008, specifically September 2008, Deryl began this campaign of harassment against my son and it continued for two years," Richardson said.

Richardson said in 2009, his son called police after Dedmon and a group of boys confronted him at a Brandon pond and tried to start a fight. He said the group, including Dedmon, tormented several teens in the community, using racial and homphobic slurs.

Witnesses Describe Fatal Hit-And-Run

Richardson spoke during a news conference Friday at the Cochran Law Firm, which is representing Anderson's family in a wrongful death lawsuit. Attorney Winston Thompson said the pastor reported the harassment to the Brandon police and school district.

"(Richardson) went so far as to send emails and made statements to the effect that if something's not done about Deryl, it's possible that he may take a life," Thompson said.

The pastor said Dedmon transferred to a different school last year. Richardson said the Brandon police and school district did the best they could in dealing with Dedmon.

"I thought it was obviously painfully clear that Daryl was going to injure someone severely or possibly kill someone. And I believe if he doesn't get some help, if he isn't taken off the streets that it's going to happen again," Richardson said.

Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith sat beside Richardson during Friday's news conference. Smith said after reviewing the facts in the case he filed a motion Thursday to revoke Dedmon's bond. A hearing is scheduled for Wednesday before Jackson Municipal Court Judge Ali Shamsideen.

John Rice, 18, is also charged with murder in connection with Anderson's death. He was denied bond Thursday during an initial hearing before Municipal Court Judge Henry Clay.

Anderson's family claims that the fatal hit-and-run was racially motivated and should be considered a hate crime. A witness to the incident told 16 WAPT News that he heard Dedmon yell racial remarks and expletives before Anderson was killed.

Dedmon's attorney said his client didn't know Anderson and called the incident an accident.

Jackson police have said that surveillance video shows Anderson and Rice initiating an altercation with Anderson before he was run over by the truck.

Metro Inn General Manager Dr. Val Patel said the surveillance video shows the incident, including the reaction of the people inside the truck after Anderson was run down.

"As we see, and we know, he came from there, rolled the window down and laughed and danced and then he went that way," Patel said, pointing toward the interstate.

Investigators said there could be additional arrests.

Copyright 2011 by WAPT.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.